TURKMENISTAN: BIOGRAPHIC INFORMATION ON KEY NEW

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 000912 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR SCA/CEN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECON PGOV TX SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: BIOGRAPHIC INFORMATION ON KEY NEW APPOINTEES ASHGABAT 00000912 001.5 OF 002 ¶1. (U) Sensitive but Unclassified. Not for Internet distribution ¶2. (SBU) At the July 10 Cabinet of Ministers session, President Berdimuhamedov dismissed 12 senior officials, including one Deputy Cabinet Minister, one provincial governor, one deputy provincial governor, one Minister, one State Committee Director, four district governors, one Oil Refinery Plant Director, one provincial police chief, and one deputy district governor. The President cited "serious shortcomings in their work" during the first half of 2009 when announcing the dismissals. ¶3. (SBU) The President also reprimanded the governor of Mary province, Kakageldi Gurbanov. The evening television news broadcast showed the President admonishing some officials and then firing some, and then telling them to leave the room. The camera followed almost all of the dismissed officials as they walked towards the exit. Allegedly, according to locals, when the Head of State tells an official to leave the room during a cabinet session, it means that as soon as he steps out the door, law enforcement organs commence an investigation on him, usually for "financial shortcomings." This is a practice that Berdimuhamedov inherited from his predecessor, the late President Niyazov. Post has gathered the following biographic information about the newly appointed officials. ¶4. (SBU) Baymyrat HOJAMUHAMMEDOV, Deputy Chairman for Oil and Gas, Cabinet of Ministers: Born in 1961 in Ashgabat. Hojamuhammedov graduated in 1984 from the Turkmen Polytechnic Institute majoring in mountain engineering and hydrogeology. In 1990, he received a graduate degree from the Orjoinikdize Geological Exploration Institute in Moscow. From 1991 to 2003, he held a number of positions in the Turkmen Geology Production Association and then in the Turkmen Oil and Gas State Trade Corporation. From 2003 to 2005, he worked as Deputy Chairman of the National Clearing Center at the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan. In 2005, he was appointed Chief of Department of the Turkmen Oil and Gas State Trade Corporation. In 2007, he worked in the system of Ministry of Oil and Gas Industry and Mineral Resources, was Head of the Department of Supply of Production facilities at the Turkmen Gas State Concern. In 2007-2008, Hojamuhammedov held the post of Minister of Oil and �00A;Gas Industry and Mineral Resources. In 2008, he was appointed Chairman of Turkmengas State Concern. His predecessor, Tachberdi Tagyev was relieved of his position formally "due to transfer to another job", i.e. to the position of Director of Seydi Oil Refinery Plant, but in reality, he was demoted "for shortcomings in his work." ¶5. (SBU) Mammetniyaz NURMAMMEDOV, Governor of Dashoguz province: Nurmammedov was the mayor of Dashoguz city until 2007. From 2007 to 2009, he was the governor of Ahal province. No further biographic information on Nurmammedov is available. His predecessor, Saparmyrat Ashirov, was fired for "serious shortcomings in his work," in particular, non-fulfillment of the grain harvest and non-implementation of the presidential program on rural development. ¶6. (SBU) Dangmyrat MYRATBERDIYEV, Governor of Ahal province: Since 2006, he has been the governor of the Altyn Asyr district of Ahal province, and was later appointed Deputy Governor of Ahal province. No further biographic information on Myratberdiyev is available. (His predecessor, Mammetniyaz Nurmammedov was transferred to Dashoguz province). ¶7. (SBU) Dowlet MOMMAYEV, Acting Chairman of Turkmengas State Concern: Previously, Mommayev worked as Deputy Chairman of the Turkmen Gas State Concern. No further biographic details of Mommayev are available. His predecessor, Baymyrat Hojamuhammedov was promoted to the post of Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers. ¶8. (SBU) Rozmyrat SEYITKULYEV, Acting Minister of Railway Transportation: From July 8 to July 10, 2009, Seyitkulyev was Deputy Minister of Railway Transportation. No further biographic ASHGABAT 00000912 002.4 OF 002 details on Seyitkulyev are available. His predecessor, Deryaguly Muhammetgulyev, was fired for "serious shortcomings in his work". ¶9. (SBU) Ashyrguly GURBANGULYEV, Chairman of the State Committee on Statistics: From 2007 to 2009, Gurbangulyev was the director of the Institute of Strategic Planning and Economic Development (Note: On 10/11/2007, National State Institute of Statistics and Information of Turkmenistan was divided into State Committee on Statistics and Institute of Strategic Planning and Economic Development). No further information on Gurbangulyev is available. His predecessor, Kakamyrat Mommadov was fired for "shortcomings in his work." ¶10. (SBU) Muhammetgeldi ATAYEV, Director of Institute of Strategic Planning and Economic Development: Atayev previously served as Deputy Minister of Economy and Development. From 2007 to 2008, was the Deputy Director of the Institute of Strategic Planning and Economic Development. No further biographic information on Atayev is available. His predecessor, Ashyrguly Gurbangulyev, was transferred to the position of Chairman of the State Committee on Statistics. ¶11. (SBU) Geldimyrat AMANJAYEV, Deputy Minister of Railway Transportation. No biographic information on Amanjayev is available. His predecessor Rozmyrat Seyitkuliyev was promoted to the position of Acting Minister of Railway Transportation. ¶12. (SBU) Tachmuhammet RAHMANOV, Deputy Governor of Balkan province. No biographic information on Rahmanov is available. ¶13. (SBU) Maksatberdi JAKGAYEV, Deputy Governor of the Ruhabat district of Ahal province. No biographic information on Jakgayev is available. ¶14. (SBU) Orazdurdy SUHANOV, Chief of Balkan province Police Department. No biographic information on Suhanov is available. His predecessor, Dovletmammed Gurbanov, was relieved from the position and transferred to another job. ¶15. (SBU) Kakageldi ZAHYROV, Chief of Dashoguz province Police Department. No biographic information on Zahyrov is available. MILES